Convertible flatbed container

ABSTRACT

A flatbed container for handling cargo in overland and marine transportation capable of being stacked with other containers in superposed relation. The flatbed container is provided with end frames having coupling means at the upper ends thereof, the end frames being releasably fastened to the container platform base for permitting end frames of various heights to be mounted upon the platform base.

United States Patent. 1191 Shahani A [111 3,802,357 [4 1 Apr. 9,1974

[ 5 4 1 CONVERTIBLE v FLATBED CONTAINER [75] Inventor: Prakash W. Shahani, Edison, NJ.

[73] Assignee: Sea-Land Service, Inc., Elizabeth,

22 Filed: July 26,1971 21 App]. No.: 165,505

521 U.S.C1. ..108/55 51 Int. Cl 865d 19/44 [58] FieldofSearch ..108/5158;

3,628,805 Archer 108/53 3,207,095 9/1965 Hiatt, Jr 108/53 2,828,931 4/1958 Harvey 248/119 2,940,597 6/1960 Machielse et al.. 2] H27 3,157,424 11/1964 Hall 294/67 3,177,823 4/1965 Entel 108/53 3,193,093 7/1965 Hansen 206/62 3,400,671 9/1968 Erismann... 108/53 3,568,608 3/1971 Taylor 108/53 Primary Examiner-Pau1 R. Gilliam Assistant Examiner-G. O. Finch 57] ABSTRACT 5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENIEUAFR 9 i974 3 8 O2 3 5 7 F|G.6 YINVENTOR.

PR AKASH W. SHAHANI .1 CONVERTIBLE FLATBED CONTAINER BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION I This invention relates generally to the handling of freight in transit-and more specifically to a flatbed container for transporting cargo on container ships, of a truck-trailer chassis, railway flatcars, etc., whereby the flatbed containers are free to be hoisted and stowed aboard ship in superposed relation directly upon each other. Couplingdevices are provided at the corners of the containers for facilitating lifting of the containers and coupling toother containers positioned above and- /or below the flatbed container.

Conventional containers for transporting freight normally are of one of several fixed heights, that is 8 feet, 4 feet, etc. This is to accommodate fixed number of containers in a stack within a cell of a container ship. In stacking flatbed type containers, the type of commodity being transported dictates the minimum required height of the corner post of the flatbed container. Therefore, conventional flatbed containers have been constructed of standard heights for transporting cargo of various sizes.

The present invention is directed to a flatbed,- one container design which can be converted to different heights based upon the cargo to be transported. The container height can be varied by simply changing the container corner post or end frames.

Briefly, the flatbed container of the present invention involves a generally rectangular, relatively flat platform base having end frames removably secured thereto at the ends of the container. Each end frame includes two corner posts having coupling means at the upper ends thereof and flange portions at the lower ends which are adapted to be aligned with upstanding lugs, secured to the platform base, for receiving locking pins. The end frames may be removed and replaced by frames of different heights depending upon the cargo to be transported upon the container.

One of the primary objects of the invention is the provision of a flatbed container having convertible corner posts. Another object of the invention is the provision of corner posts or end frames which may be conveniently and rapidly releasably coupled to a platform base.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES flatbed container mounted upon a truck;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the container illustrating the manner of releasably securing I an end frame to the platform base;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the end frame of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of one end of the platform base illustrating a locking lug;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of a means for securing a corner post to the platform base;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view of an end frame assembly illustrating the manner of releasably securing a header bar to the comer post.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawing, and particularly to FIG. 1, the convertible flatbed container 10 includes an elongated platform base 12 and end frame assemblies or bulkheads l4 and 16 positioned at the forward and rearward ends thereof.

The generally flat, rectangular base platform 10 may be of a length and width corresponding to the size of conventional standard box-like cargo containers which are adapted to be stacked in superposed relation aboard ships and adapted to be transported by rail or highway truck-trailers. The end portions of the platform base 12 have front and rear cross members 18 and 20, each having post assemblies 22 fixedly secured to the ends thereof as by welding or other suitable means. Channel members 24 may be secured in abutting relation withthe corner assemblies 22 and the underneath side of the cross member 18.

Each post assembly 22 includes an upstanding lug member 26 at the upper end and a corner casting 28 at the lower end. The lower side of each casting is provided with a keyhole slot 29 which may be of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,027,025. The slots facilitate the positioning and securing together of the container with other containers in stacked relation or for securing the container to a trailer chassis, as shown by FIGS. 1 and 2, by cooperating with locking lugs 30. Each of the lugs 26 has an opening 32 for receiving a locking pin 34. Each of the post assemblies 22 also is providedwith upwardly directed bar members 36 positioned on opposed sides of the lug 26 for a purpose to be described later.

The forward bulkhead or end frame assembly 14 includes spaced, upstanding corner post assemblies 38 interconnected by a generally rectangular frame assembly 40. The lower end of each corner post assembly includes a generally U-shaped member having spaced flanges 42 with aligned openings 44 for cooperating with the locking lugs 26 of the post assemblies 22. The lugs 26 are received between the flanges 42 and with the openings 32 and 34 aligned, pins 34 are inserted into the openings for coupling the end frames to the platform base. I

The post assemblies 38 may be of various heights such as, for example, X or Y shown by full and broken lines, FIG. 2. Since the commodity to be shipped determines the height of the post assemblies 38 required, spare end frame assemblies l4, 16 may be changed to provide the most economical size flatbed containers for stacking aboard a ship.

The upper end of each post assembly 38 is provided with a comer casting 46 having a keyhole slot 48 for facilitating the interlocking with the flatbed container of suitable lifting lugs for transferring the container from a trailer chassis to a ship and vice versa and for facilitating the positioning and securing together of the containers in stacked relation.

The rearward bulkhead end frame assembly 16 comprises spaced post assemblies 50 which are generally like the front corner post 38, interconnected by a removable header bar 52. The corner posts 38 and 50 are full load bearing members of the containers. The ends of the header bar 52 and the inner sides of post assemblies 50 are provided with interlockkng flanged elements 54 and 56, respectively, which are adapted to be secured together by locking pins 58, as shown by FIG. 8. The rear comer post assemblies 50 are secured to the lower post assemblies 22 by pins 34 in a manner similar to that shown by FIG. 3.

To prevent pivoting of the post assemblies 38 and 50 relative to the lower post assemblies 22, bar members 60 are provided at the ends of spaced flanges 42 for cooperating with and abutting the bar members 36.

I claim:

1. Cargo handling apparatus comprising a flatbed container body for stacking interhangeably in superposed relation with other container bodies, said container body including a base for supporting cargo thereon, pivoted end frames releasably attached at each end of said base, each of said end frames including spaced interconnected posts, each of said posts having first coupling means at the upper ends for facilitating the lifting of said container body or interlocking with another container body to support same upon said end frames, a second coupling means at the lower end of reach of said posts releasably coupled to said base, third coupling means attached to the under side of said base and substantially aligned with each of said posts for releasably securing said posts and said end frames to said base; said base and posts having cooperating means to prevent relative displacement of said posts, end frames and base.

2. Cargo handling apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said means to prevent relative displacement of said posts, end frames and base comprises abutting bar members secured to said base and said end frames.

3. Cargo handling apparatus as recited in claim 1, at least one of said end frames including a removable member interconnecting said corner posts.

4. Cargo handling apparatus as recited in claim 1, said means releasably securing at least one of said end frames to said base includes interlocking lug and flange members.

5. Cargo handling apparatus as recited in claim 4, said lug and flange members having aligned openings therein, and a pin for inserting through said aligned openings for interlocking said lug and flange members. 

1. Cargo handling apparatus comprising a flatbed container body for stacking interchangeably in superposed relation with other container bodies, said container body including a base for supporting cargo thereon, pivoted end frames releasably attached at each end of said base, each of said end frames including spaced interconnected posts, each of said posts having first coupling means at the upper ends for facilitating the lifting of said container body or interlocking with another container body to support same upon said end frames, a second coupling means at the lower end of reach of said posts releasably coupled to said base, third coupling means attached to the under side of said base and substantially aligned with each of said posts for releasably securing said posts and said end frames to said base; said base and posts having cooperating means to prevent relative displacement of said posts, end frames and base.
 2. Cargo handling apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said means to prevent relative displacement of said posts, end frames and base comprises abutting bar members secured to said base and said end frames.
 3. Cargo handling apparatus as recited in claim 1, at least one of said end frames including a removable member interconnecting said corner posts.
 4. Cargo handling apparatus as recited in claim 1, said means releasably securing at least one of said end frames to said base includes interlocking lug and flange members.
 5. Cargo handling apparatus as recited in claim 4, said lug and flange members having aligned openings therein, and a pin for inserting through said aligned openings for interlocking said lug and flange members. 